Method and system to provide subsequent history field for intellectual property document

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method of searching and organizing intellectual property (IP) formulates and facilitates searches for intellectual property and organizes results of such searches. In an exemplary embodiment, a search and organization server is provided with one or more modules to create and process search queries to be run on local or remote database systems. A class search can provide on-line access to classification information and facilitate searching of intellectual property using classifications. An IP thesaurus can provide for developing a list of elements found in IP information. The list of elements may be used as an aid in learning a new technology, as a search tool to refine search queries or criteria. A field-of-search can be based on search information identified from select IP information. Optional modules can formulate, store, organize, and output search results.

This application derives from and claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/277,282, filed Mar. 21, 2001, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. This is also a continuationof co-pending U.S. Utility patent application Ser. Nos. ______ (AttorneyDocket No. K7565.0005/P005), filed on ______, and ______ (AttorneyDocket No. 17565.0006/P006), filed on ______, which are bothincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Intellectual property (IP) professionals such as patent attorneys,agents, law firms, search firms, corporate IP departments, technologytransfer managers, asset-based lenders, and the like perform laborioustasks of searching for, retrieving, analyzing, and organizing variousforms of IP, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and tradesecrets.

Known subscription-based and non-subscription-based search systemsprovide IP professionals with basic search and retrieval functions.Database hardware and software have been developed, for access by IPprofessionals and other users through personal computers, mainframes,and other processor-based devices. Users may access and view IPinformation stored locally on CD-ROMs, stored on network storage devicesthrough a local area network, or stored on remote database systemsthrough one or more disparate network paths (e.g., the Internet).

Electronic searching for intellectual property information haseffectively become the preferred searching vehicle given the vast amountof information available, the complexity of the information, thegeographical limitations posed, and the technically adeptness of themajority of IP professionals. The known electronic searching systems,however, provide nothing more than rudimentary searching functions thatrequire the IP professionals to formulate the content and direction oftheir search strategy through previous experience or trial-and-error.The systems are unable to facilitate or automate the creation of searchqueries and criteria. Nor do the known systems provide for the efficientretrieval, retention, and organization of IP information sought orresulting from the searching process.

SUMMARY

An apparatus for and a method of searching and organizing intellectualproperty (IP) is provided. In accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, an apparatus (and corresponding method) is provided forformulating and facilitating searches for intellectual property, andorganizing results of such searches. In an exemplary embodiment, asearch and organization server is provided with one or more modules tocreate and process search queries to be run on local or remote databasesystems. A class search module, for example, may be provided to provideon-line access to classification information and facilitate searching ofintellectual property information using select classifications. An IPthesaurus module may be provided for developing a list of elements(e.g., words, textual phrases, concepts, representations, numbers,identifications, pictures, graphics, features, etc.) found in selectintellectual property information (e.g., groupings of patents). Inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment, the list of elements may beused as an aid in learning a new technology, as a search tool to refinesearch queries or criteria, as a drafting tool to assist in thepreparation of technical or legal documents (e.g., proposals, licenses,patent applications, etc.), or any other practical use. Afield-of-search module may be provided to create a field-of-search basedon search information identified from select intellectual propertyinformation. Additional modules (e.g., search engine, workspace module,alert generator, report generator, etc.) may be provided in the searchserver to formulate, store, organize and output results achieved throughoperation of the search server.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system architecture in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a report template created in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method of class searching in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method of searching utilizing an IPthesaurus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary method of determining a field-of-searchin accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preferred embodiments and applications of the invention will now bedescribed. Other embodiments may be realized and structural or logicalchanges may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the invention. Although the preferred embodimentsdisclosed herein have been particularly described as applied to anapparatus for (and method of) searching and organizing intellectualproperty in the form of patents, it should be readily apparent that theinvention may be embodied to implement any searching or organizingsystem (or method) having the same or similar problems.

An exemplary system architecture in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The exemplarysystem architecture may be used to effectuate any one or more aspects ofthe searching and organizing operations described in (and apparent from)the specific embodiments, implementations, and illustrations providedherein.

Some of the many system components that may be employed in thearchitecture include: one or more searching and organizing servers(symbolically depicted as “SO server 30”); one or more database units(symbolically depicted as “database 32”); one or more remote database orother storage units (symbolically depicted as “database 39”); one ormore networks (symbolically depicted as Pork 37″); and one or more users(symbolically depicted as “user or user interface 35”), as will bedescribed in more detail below.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, SO server 30 may include oneor more central processing units (CPUs) symbolically represented by CPU300 used to provide processing of input/output data between SO server30, user interface 35, and/or network 37, and among the differentmodules (all connected together via system bus 309) within SO server 30.CPU 300, which may be any known processor or processor-based system,typically executes one or more executable instructions or programsstored in the one or more (local or remote) memory devices (or otherarticles of manufacture) symbolically represented as memory module 302.Individual control modules (e.g., search engine 304, workspace module305, alert generator 306, report generator 308, class search module 310,IP thesaurus module 312, and field-of-search module 314) may be providedto control processing of the individual searching and/or organizingoperations described in (or apparent from) the instant disclosure, aswill be described in detail below. The individual control modules maythemselves be processors or processor-based systems executing one ormore executable programs (locally or remotely) stored in a memorycomponent (or other article of manufacture).

User interface 35 may include one or more display devices (e.g., CRT,LCD, or other known displays) or other output devices (e.g., printer,etc.), and one or more input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, stylus,touch screen interface, or other known input mechanisms) forfacilitating interaction of a user with the system via user interface35. As illustrated, user interface 35 may be directly coupled to SOserver 30, or indirectly coupled to SO server 30 through one or moreinterfacing modules (e.g., network server 34) and one or more direct orindirect transmission paths (e.g., symbolically represented as “network37”).

Network 37 may take any wired/wireless form of known connectivetechnology (e.g., corporate or individual LAN, enterprise WAN, intranet,Internet, Virtual Private Network (VPN), combinations of networksystems, etc.) to allow SO server 30 to provide local/remote informationand control data to/from other locations (e.g., remote database server38 remote database 39, network server 34/user interface 35, etc.). Inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, SO server 30may be implemented in stand-alone or network devices, as well as servingone or more users over a collection of remote and disparate networks(e.g., Internet, intranet, VPN, etc.).

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, informationrelated to intellectual property is stored in database 32 and/or in oneor more remote database systems (e.g., database 39). (For simplicity,reference is made herein only to database 32, although it should bereadily apparent that one or more supplementary or alternative storagedevices (e.g., remote database 39) may be employed in lieu of (or incombination with database 32) for any given implementation of theinvention.) In this exemplary embodiment, the stored intellectualproperty information is related to patents, including text and images ofU.S., foreign, international, or multi-national patent publications(e.g., issued patents or equivalents, published patent applications,statutory invention registrations, abstracts, etc.), including Japanese,Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), and European Convention patentpublications, as well as other related information (e.g., technicalpublications, sequence listings, tile histories, government records,public notices, etc.) that may be associated or otherwise pertinent tosuch patent publications. The different information may be stored as acontinuous set of data, segmented to form a contiguous whole, orseparated into different segments to reside in and among one or moreserver databases, as well as partitioned for storage in one or morefiles to achieve efficiencies in storage, access, and processing ofdata.

The stored intellectual property information may be stored in one ormore database structures for use in their raw, natural, or unmodifieddata states (e.g., as delivered from the data source). In accordancewith a preferred embodiment, at least some portion of the informationmay be modified prior to storage in database 32. For example, theprinted patents and published applications may be marked up usingExtensible Markup Language (XML) prior to storage in database 32. TheX-ML-based information can be easily transformed by the system or userinto a variety of formats, including document types such as PDF, RTF,TIF, HTML, as well as interfaces understood by diverse components suchas wireless and handheld devices.

Search engine 304 is provided (alone or in conjunction with othermodules) to control the search and retrieval of intellectual propertyinformation stored in database 32 based on search criteria or queriesformulated in SO server 30 (e.g., by modules 310, 312, 314, etc.) and/orby user 35. Search engine 304 may provide text-based, graphics-based,code-based, or other search/query mechanisms to produce search resultsto be viewed, accessed, or otherwise output from SO server 30 (e.g., touser 35). In an exemplary embodiment, for example, search engine 304performs searches based on input data such as: identification numbers(e.g., patent number); keywords; text or graphics in select fields(e.g., different segments or information fields of documents such asPublication Number, Publication Date, Title, Inventor, Assignee,Application Number, Filing Date, Related Data, Priority Data,International Classification, U.S. Classification, Cross-ReferenceClassification, Field of Search, References Cited, Forward ReferencesCiting Document, Examiner, Agent, Abstract, Background, Field ofInvention, Summary, Brief Description of Drawings, Detailed Description,Claims, Drawings, etc.); Boolean logic characters, or other searchcriteria (e.g., date restrictions, etc.).

Results of the search or query are compiled for storage, display, orother output (e.g., to user 35). The results may include a list ofintellectual property (e.g., issued patents) or other informationcorresponding to the search criteria or query developed by (or input to)SO server 30. The information listed may link to underlying data (e.g.,patent images, text, etc.) stored locally or remotely in database 32,may be links to resources on remote storage systems (e.g., U.S. Patentand Trademark Office database, Web site of commercial database provider,etc.) accessible over an external network (e.g., network 37), or may beother links or data identifying a location or resource (on or off-line)of information (e.g., name of printed publication, name/address ofpublisher, or identity of thesis cataloged in library, etc.)corresponding to the search criteria or query. Search engine 304 isprogrammed to permit editing or refinement of the search criteria orquery to perform additional searches on different data sets or the dataset produced from the initial search results.

SO server 30 makes the search results (and any available underlyingdocuments listed) available for viewing or other output (e.g., print,e-mail, fax, etc.) by user 35 (or other systems). In a preferredembodiment, the search results are presented as an ordered list. Thesearch results may be ordered, sorted, and reordered in accordance withone or more known order preferences set by a user (e.g., date,alphabetical by title, inventor, assignee, relevancy, weightedrelevancy, scoring formula, etc.).

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the resulting information(i.e., results and/or available underlying documents) may be downloadedin one or more textual/graphical formats (e.g., RTF, PDF, TIFF, etc.),or set for alternative delivery to one or more specified locations(e.g., via e-mail, fax, regular mail, courier, etc.) in any desiredformat (e.g., print, storage on electronic media such as CD-ROM, etc.).SO server 30 is programmed to allow users, that are viewing the searchresults and underlying documents on user interface 35, to view one ormore documents on the same display, as well as view one or more portionsor segments or information fields of different documents (e.g.,abstract, drawings, claims, etc.) simultaneously so as to facilitateanalysis of the search results.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the individual items ordocuments listed in the search results, as well as the underlyingdocuments themselves, may include one or more specific references, datafields, links, or other indications of subsequent history of the item ordocument. The subsequent history information when used in connectionwith patent information, for example, may refer to the existence ofpending or completed reexamination, reissue, opposition, arbitration,litigation, or other proceedings. Where documentation of the subsequenthistory (e.g., reexamination certificate, file history, complaint,notice, etc.) is available (e.g., from database 32, remote database 39,etc.), links or other identification of the resource location of thedocumentation may be included in the subsequent history information toallow the documentation to be easily accessed, retrieved, and/or outputfor use (e.g., viewing, printing, etc.) by user 35 or the like. Thesubsequent history information may be acquired by (or provided to) SOserver 30 periodically (e.g., during database updates) for inclusion(e.g., in a subsequent history data field, etc.) with respective itemsor documents within the data domain of SO server 30.

A specialized subsequent history field that may be included is referredto herein as a “Forward Reference” field that is associated with, anunderlying item or document. The Forward Reference field providesinformation regarding subsequent items or documents (e.g., patents,publications, notices, etc.) that have cited or otherwise made referenceto the underlying item or document.

Search results, the underlying documents listed in the search results,as well as the search criteria itself may be saved (in local or remotememory units). In a preferred embodiment, users are provided withdedicated workspace areas in which to save, edit and organize savedsearch results, resulting documents, and search criteria. Workspacemodule 305 is provided (alone or in conjunction with other modules) tofacilitate and control use of the workspace areas by individuals orgroups of individuals. Workspace module 305 permits the creation andnaming of portfolios or other folder mechanisms that may be useful inthe retention and organization of the saved information. Selectdocuments, search results, and search criteria may be moved intodifferent folders for storage and organization purposes. The folders maybe organized into different hierarchical arrangements where desired.Users are permitted to annotate individual documents, search results,criteria, as well as folders with notes, comments, and identificationdata for their own use or group usage. The annotations may themselvesinclude the introduction, importation or link (e.g., URLs) to a varietyof information, including documents, images, video, multimedia content,and other data available or stored locally or remotely through thenetwork.

Alert generator 306 may be used (alone or in conjunction with othermodules) to access saved searches (stored in either a user's workspace,or in any other memory unit) and automatically update the searches upona lapse of a predetermined period (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, etc.),or upon occurrence of a predetermined event (e.g., database update,etc.). A user requesting that a saved search be automatically updated,can specify how the user is to be alerted of any changes in the searchresults. Alert generator 306, for example, can be programmed to providean alert (e.g., containing the new search results) to a user by sendingan e-mail message, voice mail message, pager message, facsimile message,regular mail message, or other mechanism (or combination of suchmechanisms) specified by the user. The update search can be performed ononly portions (e.g., updated data) of the database or the entiredatabase.

Report generator 308 may be provided for use (alone or in conjunctionwith other modules) in providing reports identifying search criteria,search results, or other pertinent information as customized by a user.Report generator 308, for example, may be programmed to allow users tocreate and store templates or other forms to be populated during reportgeneration. Reports may then be generated manually or automatically fromselected data sets (e.g., identified search results, select documents,etc.), or from contents of one or more workspace folders. Portfolios ina user's workspace storing intellectual property of a given company, forexample, can be used to generate reports of the company holdings using acustomized template.

The template may include any textual or graphical content stored orotherwise referenced in the portfolio (or in any other local or remotememory unit) for retrieval and placement in the report as dictated bythe customized template. In an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG.2, a company logo 20, is retrieved from storage (e.g., in the portfoliofolder, database 32, remote database 39, etc.) and positioned in theupper left-hand corner of the report, as dictated by the template. Inthis exemplary embodiment, the intellectual property information storedin the portfolio pertains to the company patent holdings, and thetemplate has been customized to include only specific portions of eachpatent. Thus, for each patent stored or otherwise referenced in theworkspace portfolio, the patent title 21, docket number 22, inventorname 23, drawing FIG. 24, filing data 25, and abstract 26 are printed intheir respective positions as dictated by the customized template.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, class searchmodule 310 (FIG. 1) is provided to implement (alone or in conjunctionwith other modules) a search system for use with one or moreclassification systems (e.g., U.S. Patent and Trademark Officeclassification of patents, classification of goods and services fortrademarks, U.S. Copyright Office classification of copyrighted works,etc.). During a user search, class search module 310 is programmed togain access to underlying data of a classification system from database32 (and/or any other accessible remote system having some or all of theunderlying data). Class search module 310 may output the underlyingdata, for example, as a display on user interface 35. In an exemplaryembodiment, the underlying data may be displayed as an on-lineclassification index for on-line access to a list of subject headingsreferring to specific classifications made in the classification system.The display may further include an on-line classification manual foron-line access to a list of class tides in the classification system, aswell as on-line classification definitions for on-line access toexplanations and illustrations of subject matter classified in eachclassification.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, class search module 310 isprogrammed to effectuate the operational steps illustrated in FIG. 3 anddescribed below. A user performing a desired search is given access toand able to review the different subject headings, titles, anddefinitions in the classification system to locate and select the mostpertinent classifications (step 302). Class search module 310 receivesinput data from user interface 35 regarding one or more classificationsselected by the user. The classifications selected may be implemented ina variety of forms. The classifications may include, for example,“current classification,” “current cross-reference classification,”respectively directed to the current primary and secondaryclassifications (e.g., class\subclass) assigned to intellectual propertyinformation to be searched, as well as the “former,” “original,” orother classification and cross-reference classification data of theinformation (e.g., at time of publication of the information). Thedifferent forms of classification data available (e.g.,“classification,” “cross-reference classification,” etc.) may beselected individually, in combinations, or all at once, as desired by auser.

The selected classifications are used to define search criteria to beused in searching database 32 for desired intellectual propertyinformation (step 504). The search criteria as defined is stored in auser accessible storage bank (step 506). The search criteria stored inthe storage bank may be output by class search module 310 to bedisplayed, edited (e.g., classifications added or deleted), or furtherrefined at user interface 35. The stored search criteria is transmittedby class search module 310 itself or other modules (e.g., search engine)to database 32 for execution so as to identify any intellectual propertyinformation corresponding to the search criteria. Any intellectualproperty information corresponding to the search criteria is retrieved(step 508) by class search module 310 (or other modules) for subsequentprocessing. The search results may be output to the user in any knownfashion, including display on user interface 35 (step 510), and storedin a user workspace, if desired. Preferably, the search results aredisplayed as a list of intellectual property information having the sameor similar form as that described above in connection with the searchresults produced from search engine 304. The listed information may thusbe links to underlying intellectual property information (e.g., patentimages, text, etc.) stored locally or remotely in database 32, links toresources on remote storage systems (e.g., U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice database, Web site of commercial database provider, etc.)accessible over an external network (e.g., network 37), or other linksor data identifying a location or resource (on or off-fine) ofinformation (e.g., name of printed publication, name/address ofpublisher, or identity of thesis cataloged in library, etc.)corresponding to the search criteria or query.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, class search module 310 isprogrammed to display search results from individual classificationsseparately, ordered in any preference designated by the user (e.g.,date, alphabetical by title, inventor, assignee, relevancy, weightedrelevancy, scoring formula, etc.). A user may alternatively request thatclass search module 310 present any two or more selected classificationsas a simultaneous listing or single grouping of search results (orderedas desired), with removal of any duplicates arising from commonlyclassified documents or information.

Class search module 310 is programmed to permit a user to further defineor otherwise edit the search criteria to refine or limit the searchresults. Other search criteria or queries performed by search engine 304(or other modules) can be added to the stored search criteria (or atleast searched in conjunction with the stored search criteria) toeffectively narrow the focus of the search. Class search module 310 mayretrieve the additional search criteria from stored search criteria(e.g., imported from a user's workspace) or otherwise receive theadditional search criteria in the form of input data from user interface35 (e.g., via keyboard). The additional search criteria may, forexample, be additional keywords to be searched in an entire document orin select fields (e.g., detailed description only). Other knownlimitations (e.g., date restrictions) or search elements (e.g., Booleanlogic operators) may be added to further refine the search criteria. Thesearch criteria thus refined or edited may again be transmitted (and/orstored for later transmission) to database 32 (and/or remote systems)for execution on the entire database or only on a selected portion ofthe database (e.g., the previous search results, updated portions of thedatabase, etc.).

Select documents, search results, and/or search criteria may be storedin a user's workspace in a manner similar to that described above inconnection with search engine 304.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, IP Thesaurusmodule 312 (FIG. 1) is provided to implement (alone or in conjunctionwith other modules) a variety of functions and operations related to theanalysis and determination of elements of select intellectual propertyinformation (e.g., patents, trademarks, copyrights, mask works, tradesecrets, etc.). Preferably, IP Thesaurus module 312 is programmed toreceive input data or signals from a user (e.g., via user interface 35)identifying select intellectual property information to form orotherwise be designated as a source collection or grouping (hereinafter“source grouping”) of intellectual property information. In accordancewith a preferred embodiment, IP Thesaurus module 312 (directly, orindirectly) effectuates the retrieval and collection of the sourcegrouping of intellectual property information into a memory unit (e.g.,memory 302) that is accessible by IP Thesaurus module 312 (and/or SOserver 30).

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the select intellectualproperty information input by the user may be individual intellectualproperty (e.g., patents) identified by native indicia (e.g., list ofpatents identified by patent number, common assignee, date categories,etc.). The select intellectual property information may also bepre-existing groupings such as intellectual property informationpreviously identified in logical organizational constructs (e.g.,folders in the user's workspace, saved search results, etc.) stored in amemory unit or system (e.g., memory unit 302, database 32, remote memorystorage through network 37, etc.). IP Thesaurus module 312 thus may beprogrammed to receive input data from the user merely providing theidentity or location of the underlying information (or even theunderlying information itself) to facilitate retrieval and/or access tothe select information.

In accordance with one commercial embodiment, for example, IP Thesaurusmodule 312 may be used in connection with an established classificationsystem such as the classification system maintained by the U.S. Patentand Trademark Office for patent publications for searching patents, orthe classification system for goods/services for searching trademarks.The source grouping, thus, in this exemplary embodiment may represent afield of search (e.g., patent search classes, subclasses, enumerateddigests, etc.) of interest to the user.

Once the source grouping is retrieved (or at least accessible) for useby IP Thesaurus module 312, a review of the select intellectual propertyinformation in the source grouping is made (e.g., by IP Thesaurus module312 itself or by/with other modules) to ascertain the different elements(e.g., words, textual phrases, concepts, representations, numbers,identifications, pictures, graphics, features, etc.) found in the sourcegrouping, and generate a list thereof. Where desired, the list thusgenerated may be stored for later use or immediately output to the user(e.g., via network 37 to user interface 35) for viewing, display orother use by the user (e.g., storing in a local/remote memory unit,printing, forwarding, etc.). Additional data related to the differentelements derived from the source grouping may be statistically analyzedby IP Thesaurus module 312 (itself or by/with other modules) to produceuseful information such as the frequency of occurrence of the differentelements in the source grouping, as well as other information (e.g.,frequency of occurrence in individual or subsets of documents, frequencyof occurrence in segments or information fields of documents,associative relationships or patterns formed among different elements,etc.). The statistical data may be presented to the user, together withthe list of elements derived. A list such as a word-frequency list, forexample, may be created and displayed on a user interface: the list maypresent all of the different words found in a given source grouping,along with the frequency of occurrence of each listed word in the sourcegrouping.

A user presented with a word-frequency list (or other useable output)from IP Thesaurus module 312 may use the list as an aid in learning anew technology, as a search tool to refine search queries or criteria,as a drafting tool to assist in the preparation of technical or legaldocuments (e.g., proposals, licenses, patent applications, etc.), or anyother practical use. The outputs (e.g., Lists of elements) from IPThesaurus module 312 may be saved (locally, remotely, etc.) forsubsequent use by one or more users.

In accordance with, a preferred embodiment of the invention, individualelements (e.g., words, concepts, phrases, etc.) may be selected by oneor more users at various times of use for storage in a mastercollection. Such a master collection facilitates the creation ofdynamically evolving associative dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses,or other knowledge bases of elements for intellectual propertyinformation, where individual elements (e.g., words) may be associatedor otherwise linked with one or more related elements (e.g., synonyms,antonyms, homonyms, like structures, analogous patterns, pictures,concepts, phrases, meanings, etc.) derived from use of the IP Thesaurusmodule 312 on various source groupings.

A method derived from the use of the exemplary commercial embodimentdescribed above is illustrated in FIG. 4. In accordance with thisexemplary embodiment, a user (in step 602) selects one or moreclassifications (e.g., patent classes, subclasses, enumerated digests,etc.) to select desired intellectual property information (e.g., patentpublications classified in the selected classes subclasses) for review.The input signals received by IP Thesaurus module 312 (or other modulesor systems implementing the method) designate the source grouping forretrieval (if necessary), access, and analysis to generate a list ofwords (or other elements) found in the selected information constitutingthe source grouping (step 604).

As used in a search system, input keywords (or other elements) are inputor otherwise entered to form a search query or criteria (step 606).Preferably, the list of words (or other elements) is output for displaysimultaneously (or within access) with the display of the searchcriteria entered. Where a word-frequency list (or other statisticallyrelevant information) is displayed with the search criteria, a user maydetermine that individual words (or other elements) on the list aresynonyms (or otherwise related searchable elements) to keywords enteredin the search criteria (step 608). The synonyms thus determined may beadded manually (or automatically) to the search criteria to increase therobustness of any search employing the search criteria. The synonyms maybe separately stored in an accrued synonym list as associated with oneor more terms (or elements). The accrued synonym list can be added to orfunction as a dictionary, glossary, IP Thesaurus, or otherauthoring/analysis tool that can be displayed or accessed by a userduring formation of search queries or criteria, or other uses.

A check to determine whether additional keywords are to be entered (step609) is made, and the process repeated with any additional enteredkeywords (return to step 606). If no other keywords are to be entered,the keyword search query or criteria is sent (step 610) for output toone or more databases for execution (e.g., database 32, database 39,etc.).

Any number of uses may be made of the IP Thesaurus described herein. Inaccordance with a preferred embodiment, for example, IP Thesaurus module312 (alone or in conjunction with other modules) may be programmed toformulate one or more libraries of IP Thesauruses so as to provide ahost of different categories or classifications of different IPThesauruses (or other lists or storage of different elements derived inthe manner described above). The categories for the IP Thesauruses maybe defined in any known manner (e.g., design or industry specific,devoted to different technical aspects, or other criteria). The librarymay, include an IP Thesaurus for general mechanical terminology, forexample, having as its components (or associatively related members) IPThesauruses devoted to automobile engines in general with subcomponentlists (or thesauruses) for European engines and American engines. The IPThesauruses may similarly be adapted to include (or dedicated for usewith) foreign language terms found in selected intellectual propertyinformation. IP Thesaurus module 312 thus may be programmed to ascertaindifferent foreign language elements (e.g., words, concepts, symbols,writings, etc.) for inclusion in one or more knowledge bases (e.g.,thesauruses) of elements for intellectual property information.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,Field-of-Search Module 314 (FIG. 1) is provided to implement (alone orin conjunction with other modules) a variety of functions and operationsrelated to the determination of a field-of-search based on selectintellectual property information (e.g., patents, trademarks,copyrights, mask works, trade secrets, etc.). Preferably,Field-of-Search Module 314 is programmed to receive input data orsignals from a user (e.g., via user interface 35) identifying selectintellectual property information to form or otherwise be designated asa source grouping of intellectual property information. In accordancewith a preferred embodiment, Field-of-Search Module 314 (directly, orindirectly) effectuates the retrieval and collection of the sourcegrouping of intellectual property information in the same or similarmanner as that described above in connection with IP Thesaurus Module312. Indeed, the same module(s) (e.g., IP Thesaurus Module 312,Field-of-Search Module 314, Search Engine 304, SO server 30, etc.) maybe employed to produce the source grouping for either (or any disclosed)operation, and the same source grouping information may be used(simultaneously, subsequently, or periodically) by or with the variousmodules and devices disclosed herein. For this reason, no furtherdetailed description of the selection, retrieval, access or otherprocessing (e.g., use of Field-of-Search Module 314 in conjunction witha classification system) of a source grouping is needed.

Once the source grouping is retrieved (or at least accessible) for useby Field-of-Search Module 314, a review of the select intellectualproperty information in the source grouping is made (e.g., byField-of-Search Module 314 itself or by/with other modules) to ascertainthe different elements (e.g., words, textual phrases, concepts,representations, numbers, identifications, pictures, graphics, features,etc.) found in the source grouping, and generate a list thereof thatwill constitute search information. Where desired, the list thusgenerated may be stored for later use or immediately output to the user(e.g., via network 37 to user interface 35) for viewing, display orother use by the user (e.g., storing in a local/remote memory unit,printing, forwarding, etc.). Additional data related to the differentelements derived, from the source grouping may be statistically analyzedby Field-of-Search Module 314 (itself or by/with other modules) toproduce useful information such as the frequency of occurrence of thedifferent elements or search information in the source grouping, as wellas other information (e.g., frequency of occurrence in individual orsubsets of documents, frequency of occurrence in segments or informationfields of documents, associative relationships or patterns formed amongdifferent elements, etc.).

A user presented with a list of such search information (or otheruseable output) from Field-of-Search Module 314 may use the list as anaid in determining, preparing, formulating, or otherwise creating afield-of-search (or any other practical use). The outputs (e.g., listsof elements) from Field-of-Search Module 314 may be saved (locally,remotely, etc.) for subsequent use by one or more users. Field-of-SearchModule 314 (and/or other modules) may be used to automatically determineor suggest a field-of-search based on the search information identifiedfrom one or more source groupings. Field-of-Search Module 314, forexample, may be programmed to determine the frequency of occurrence orappearance of search information (e.g., classes and subclasses) found inselect information fields (e.g., Field-of-Search, U.S. Classification,U.S. Cross-Reference Classification, References Cited, Forward Referencefields, etc.) of the intellectual property information in the sourcegrouping. Based on the total frequency value of appearance of certainsearch information found in the source grouping being greater than apredetermined value, Field-of-Search Module 314 may automatically (ormanually) create, add, or suggest such search information (e.g., classesand subclasses) for a field-of-search.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, one or more individualelements (e.g., words, concepts, phrases; etc.) may be selected fromsearch information identified from a source grouping and used toindirectly ascertain a field-of-search. Field-of-Search Module 314, forexample, may be programmed to access (alone or in conjunction with othermodules) a local or remote database (or other system) containinginformation on the categories of classification in a givenclassification system. In an exemplary commercial embodiment,Field-of-Search Module 314 accesses a classification database (or othersystem) containing classification information in the form of theclassification index, classification manual, and classificationdefinitions for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office classificationsystem used to classify patents. Once accessed, Field-of-Search Module314 can search for or otherwise associate the search informationselected (e.g., words, concepts, phrases, etc.) with the classificationinformation in the classification database to produce enumeratedclassifications (e.g., classes, subclasses, digests, etc.) that maycorrespond to the selected search information. Field-of-Search Module314 may then utilize the enumerated classifications to create, add, orsuggest a field-of-search, in the manner described above.

One method that may be derived from the use of the embodiments describedabove is illustrated in FIG. 5. In accordance with this exemplaryembodiment, a user (in step 702) selects one or more source groupings ofintellectual property information (e.g., underlying intellectualproperty such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, mask works, tradesecrets, etc.; lists of intellectual property such as search results;enumerated classifications of intellectual property such as patentclasses/subclasses, etc.) to be sampled or otherwise used as a basis fordetermining a field-of-search that may be helpful to the user (e.g., inconducting a subsequent search for intellectual property). Based on theinput signals received by Field-of-Search Module 314 (or other modulesor systems implementing the method) selecting the source grouping, theselected source grouping is retrieved (if necessary), accessed, andanalyzed for elements (e.g., numbers, classifications, words, concepts,phrases, etc.) in one or more informational fields of the intellectualproperty information constituting the source grouping (step 704). Theelements detected or otherwise found in the informational fields areidentified as search information (step 706). The search information maybe displayed or otherwise output for viewing by the user to assist inthe creation of a field-of-search (step 708). Where desired, the searchinformation may be statistically analyzed for use in automaticallygenerating, adding, or suggesting a field-of-search. As illustrated inFIG. 5, for example, search information that has a frequency ofappearance in the selected source grouping that is greater than apredetermined frequency value may be automatically added to thefield-of-search created (step 709). As used in a search system, as oneexample, the field-of-search thus created can form (or be part of) asearch query or criteria to be executed by a local or remote database.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated, it should be apparent that many modifications to theembodiments and implementations of the invention can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example,although the specific illustrations provided herein have pertained tointellectual property in the form of patents, it should be apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may similarly beemployed to store, search and organize information related to any formor combination of intellectual property (e.g., trademarks, copyrights,mask works, trade secrets, or other equivalent or related intellectualproperty such as certificates, registrations, etc.). While aclient-server architecture has been specifically illustrated herein, theinvention may easily be deployed in any form of network or communicationtechnology. While the illustrated embodiments have not specified thetype of communication medium (or protocol) used to connect the variousmodules (e.g., shown in FIG. 1), it should be apparent that any knownwired/wireless technology may be used to implement the invention (e.g.,Internet, intranets, private bulletin boards, individual local or widearea networks, proprietary chat rooms, ICQ, IRC channels, instantmessaging systems, WAP, bluetooth, etc.) using real-time ornon-real-time systems alone or in combination. The embodiments describedin (or apparent from) the instant disclosure may be employed instand-alone (or network linked) systems. The embodiments may similarlybe implemented in other known systems and platforms (e.g., personalcomputer, Internet-based devices, PDAs, portable or hand-held electronicdevices, etc.).

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, one or more user interfaces(e.g., user interface 15 (FIG. 1)) are provided as part of (or inconjunction with) the illustrated systems to permit users to interactwith the systems. User interface devices may be any device used to inputand/or output information. The user interface device may be implementedas a graphical user interface (GUI) containing a display or the like, ormay be a link to other user input/output devices known in the art.Individual ones of a plurality of devices (e.g., network/stand-alonecomputers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), WebTV (or otherInternet-only) terminals, set-top boxes, cellular/PCS phones,screenphones, pagers, kiosks, or other known (wired or wireless)communication devices, etc.) may similarly be used to execute one ormore computer programs (e.g., universal Internet browser programs,dedicated interface programs, etc.) to allow users to interface with thesystems in the manner described.

The modules described herein, particularly those illustrated or inherentin the instant disclosure, may be one or more hardware, software, orhybrid components residing in (or distributed among) one or more localor remote computer systems. Although the modules may be shown ordescribed herein as physically separated components (e.g., search engine304, workspace module 305, alert generator 306, etc.), it should bereadily apparent that the modules as described herein may be merelylogical constructs that are implemented as physical components combinedor further separated into a variety of different components, sharingdifferent resources (including processing units, memory, clock devices,software routines, etc.) as required for the particular implementationof the embodiments disclosed herein. Indeed, even a single generalpurpose computer (or other processor-controlled device) executing aprogram stored on an article of μmanufacture (e.g., recording medium orother memory units) to produce the functionality referred to herein maybe utilized to implement the illustrated embodiments.

In addition, memory or database units described herein may be any one ormore of the known storage devices or systems (e.g., Random Access Memory(RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), hard disk drive (HDD), floppy drive, zipdrive, compact disk-ROM, DVD, bubble memory, redundant array ofindependent disks (RAID), network accessible storage (NAS) systems,storage area network (SAN) systems, etc.), may also be one or morememory devices embedded within a CPU, or shared with one or more of theother components, and may be deployed locally or remotely relative toone or more components interacting with the memory or database units.

The illustrated embodiments have been described herein in connectionwith search systems and processes involving search criteria formulatedfrom specific terms or textual phrases. It should be readily apparent,however, that the search criteria formulated may be implemented in anyfashion known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The searchcriteria, for example, may be formulated as graphical or conceptualsearch criteria that allows for graphics-based or concept-based searchesof intellectual property information as used by the differentembodiments of the invention (e.g., Class Search, IP Thesaurus,Field-of-Search Determination, etc.). Although not specificallymentioned, it should be readily apparent that search engine 304 (andother modules) described herein as accessing database 32 (or otherremote database systems) may further include or be used in conjunctionwith search technology (e.g., spiders, worms, bots, or other knowndevices) used to access information in remote database systems (or othermemory unit) over any internal or external network (e.g., the Internet)to perform the various functions of retrieving, accessing, searching,etc. for stored information.

The illustrated embodiments have further been described in connectionwith user 35. It should be readily apparent that a “user” of the variousaspects of the inventive systems or methods disclosed herein may beindividuals, entities, devices, as well as peer/non-peer systems ortechnologies, and modules within the same device (e.g., SO server 30) orsystem without departing from the scope of the invention. The use of the“intellectual property information” and “source groupings” in thevarious embodiments described herein should be readily construed toinclude the underlying information constituting intellectual propertyinformation (e.g., patents, publications, etc.), as well as thenumerical, textual, graphical or other indicia identifying theintellectual property information itself, or such indicia identifyingthe location where such intellectual property information may beretrieved, stored, accessed, located or otherwise found.

Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by the foregoingdescription or drawings, and only by the claims appended hereto.

1-30. (canceled)
 31. A computer-implemented method of providingelectronic intellectual property (IP) information, the method beingexecuted on a computer and comprising: receiving as input, in a computerprocessor device, a search criteria that defines intellectual property(IP) documents to be returned as search results; searching, in thecomputer processor device, an electronic storage of IP documents basedon the search criteria, to generate search results; and displaying, inthe computer processor device, the search results, wherein the searchresults which are displayed include: (i) the IP documents correspondingto the search criteria and (ii) a result item for at least one of the IPdocuments corresponding to the search criteria, the result item for atleast one of the IP documents includes: subsequent history informationrelating to administrative or legal proceedings of which at least one ofthe IP documents forms a basis, the administrative or legal proceedingsbeing subsequent to the at least one of the IP documents.
 32. The methodof claim 31, wherein the search criteria which is input and used in thesearching is content which appears in pre-defined fields within the IPdocuments to be located in the search and returned as the searchresults.
 33. The method of claim 31, wherein the search criteria whichis input and used in the searching is data representative of aclassification system including at least one of classification numbers,a classification index, classification headings, sub-classifications,classification definitions, classification titles, and cross-referenceclassification.
 34. The method of claim 31, wherein the IP documents inthe electronic storage and returned in the search results are at leastone of: patent documents, patent application documents, trademarkdocuments, trademark application documents, copyright documents, tradesecret documents and license documents.
 35. The method of claim 31,wherein the subsequent history information of the result item indicatesone or more of: a post-grant proceeding, a pending re-examination, acompleted re-examination, a reissue, an opposition, a cancellation, anarbitration, a litigation, an administrative proceeding, an assignment,a securitization, a collateral loan agreement, and a license.
 36. Themethod of claim 35, wherein the subsequent history of the result itemincludes a link to electronically retrieve a document in the subsequenthistory, including at least one of: a post-grant proceeding document, are-examination certificate, a file history that cites or refers to theat least one of the located documents, a reissue, official filings in alitigation, official filings in an administrative proceeding, anassignment, an agreement, and a license agreement.
 37. The method ofclaim 31, further comprising a forward reference field of the resultitem that provides information which indicates at least one of: asubsequent patent, a subsequent publication, and a subsequent notice,that cites or refers to the at least one of the located documents.
 38. Asystem, implemented on at least one computer, for providing electronicintellectual property (IP) information, comprising: an electronicstorage configured to store electronic IP documents; and a processorcooperatively operable with the electronic storage, the processor beingconfigured to receive as input, a search criteria that defines IPdocuments to be returned as search results; search the electronicstorage of IP documents based on the search criteria, to generate searchresults; and facilitate displaying the search results, wherein thesearch results which are displayed include: (i) the IP documentscorresponding to the search criteria and (ii) a result item for at leastone of the IP documents corresponding to the search criteria, the resultitem for at least one of the IP documents includes: subsequent historyinformation relating to administrative or legal proceedings of which atleast one of the IP documents forms a basis, the administrative or legalproceedings being subsequent to at least one of the IP documents. 39.The system of claim 38, wherein the search criteria which is input andused in the searching is content which appears in pre-defined fieldswithin the IP documents to be located in the search and returned as thesearch results.
 40. The system of claim 38, wherein the search criteriawhich is input and used in the searching is data representative of aclassification system including at least one of classification numbers,a classification index, classification headings, sub-classifications,classification definitions, classification titles, and cross-referenceclassification.
 41. The system of claim 38, wherein the IP documents inthe electronic storage and returned in the search results are at leastone of: patent documents, patent application documents, trademarkdocuments, copyright documents, trade secret documents and licensedocuments.
 42. The system of claim 38, wherein the subsequent historyinformation of the result item indicates one or more of: a post-grantproceeding, a pending re-examination, a completed re-examination, areissue, an opposition, a cancellation, an arbitration, a litigation, anadministrative proceeding, an assignment, a securitization, a collateralloan agreement, and a license.
 43. The system of claim 42, wherein thesubsequent history information of the result item includes a link toelectronically retrieve a document in the subsequent history, includingat least one of: a post-grant proceeding document, a re-examinationcertificate, a file history that cites or refers to the at least one ofthe located documents, a reissue, official filings in a litigation,official filings in an administrative proceeding, an assignment, anagreement, and a license agreement.
 44. The system of claim 38, furthercomprising a forward reference field in the result item that providesinformation which indicates at least one of: a subsequent patent, asubsequent publication, and a subsequent notice, that cites or refers tothe at least one of the located documents.
 45. A computer program storedon a non-transitory computer-readable medium with a method of providingelectronic intellectual property (IP) information, the programcomprising computer-executable steps for: receiving as input, a searchcriteria that defines intellectual property (IP) documents to bereturned as search results; searching an electronic storage of IPdocuments based on the search criteria, to generate search results; anddisplaying the search results, wherein the search results which aredisplayed include: (i) the IP documents corresponding to the searchcriteria and (ii) a result item for at least one of the IP documentscorresponding to the search criteria, the result item for at least oneof the IP documents includes: subsequent history information relating toadministrative or legal proceedings of which at least one of the patentdocuments forms a basis, the administrative or legal proceedings beingsubsequent to the at least one of the patent documents.
 46. The computerprogram of claim 45, wherein the search criteria which is input and usedin the searching is content which appears in pre-defined fields withinthe IP documents to be located in the search and returned as the searchresults.
 47. The computer program of claim 45, wherein the searchcriteria which is input and used in the searching is data representativeof a classification system including at least one of classificationnumbers, a classification index, classification headings,sub-classifications, classification definitions, classification titles,and cross-reference classification.
 48. The computer program of claim45, wherein the IP documents in the electronic storage and returned inthe search results are at least one of: patent documents, patentapplication documents, trademark documents, trademark applicationdocuments, copyright documents, trade secret documents and licensedocuments.
 49. The computer program of claim 45, wherein the subsequenthistory information of the result item indicates one or more of: apost-grant proceeding, a pending re-examination, a completedre-examination, a reissue, an opposition, a cancellation, anarbitration, a litigation, an administrative proceeding, an assignment,a securitization, a collateral loan agreement, and a license.
 50. Thecomputer program of claim 49, wherein the subsequent history of theresult item includes a link to electronically retrieve a document in thesubsequent history, including at least one of: a post-grant proceedingdocument, a re-examination certificate, a file history that cites orrefers to the at least one of the located documents, a reissue, officialfilings in a litigation, official filings in an administrativeproceeding, an assignment, an agreement, and a license agreement. 51.The computer program of claim 45, further comprising a forward referencefield in the result item which provides information that furtherindicates at least one of: a subsequent patent, a subsequentpublication, and a subsequent notice, that cites or refers to the atleast one of the located documents.